The person who is in the process of recovery from addiction, substance abuse or mental illness often faces special challenges meeting basic needs. Just as it is difficult to concentrate and do well in school when a child is hungry despite having an excellent teacher, it is difficult to move toward wellness when one has a behavioral health problem without a place to live or other basic needs met despite having an excellent doctor.

The middle of the service pyramid represents the support functions that assist people in meeting these basic needs. Support services are natural extensions of the strengths that the congregation or the community offers. Competency is required to successfully carry out the support functions, but extensive licensure and credentialing usually is not.

Support services that can help people meet their basic needs in a number of areas: